Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Tuesday, March 5, 2013 · sitting No. 219

NDP motion to abolish Senate takes up half of Commons day

New Democratic MP Craig Scott moved a motion calling on the government to consult provinces and territories on immediate steps to abolish the unelected Senate. The motion remained before the House at the end of the supply day after interventions from Conservative MP Steven Fletcher, who defended nine-year terms and provincial elections, Liberal MP Stéphane Dion, who warned of constitutional upheaval and referendum costs, and New Democratic MP Alexandrine Latendresse, who supported the motion as a necessary response to dysfunction.

In Question Period, New Democratic Leader Thomas Mulcair questioned the Prime Minister on the use of investigators to observe employment insurance claimants and on changes to mortgage and training rules. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that long-standing verification methods protect the fund and that the Minister of Finance has delivered strong economic performance. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Human Resources Minister Diane Finley defended consultation processes and anti-fraud measures.

Liberal Leader Bob Rae pressed the Prime Minister on secrecy around a planned $2-billion training transfer and on the political activities of a former Security Intelligence Review Committee chair. The Prime Minister cited C.D. Howe Institute findings on transparency and said security reviews have been strengthened.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

No CPAC Question Period upload is on file for this day. CPAC’s channel goes back to December 2019.

Who held the floor · 2013-03-05

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 40%, opposition 60% of the words spokenGovernment businessGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 10 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
66Bills inch ahead in supply-heavy sittingThe House devoted the bulk of its time to substantive debate on supply and other topics with minimal procedural interruptions. Several bills advanced a stage while question period produced mostly deflected or incomplete answers and no votes were recorded.AI-rated Score out of 100; the verdict and the answer ratings behind it are a model’s reading. How the AI rates this

AI-rated The sitting score and the rating of each answer come from a language model reading Hansard. How the AI rates this

Other moments

Religious freedom

Conservative MP Bev Shipley moved a motion urging continued recognition of freedom of religion and conscience in Canadian foreign policy and support for Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Conservative MP Bob Dechert asked about the global state of religious freedoms.

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Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber described private member's bill C-461 as replacing a blanket exclusion for CBC documents with a discretionary injury-based exemption under access to information rules.

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Food Banks

New Democratic MP Isabelle Morin cited a UN report and HungerCount 2012 data showing a 31 per cent rise in food bank use since 2008, with 35 per cent of clients at the NDG Food Depot being children.

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Wage Earner Protection

New Democratic MP Malcolm Allen said 100 workers at Vertis Communications in Stevensville are owed $2.7 million in severance and have turned to the wage earner protection program after a U.S. bankruptcy filing.

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Question Period, exchange by exchange

AI-rated Each answer’s rating (answered, partly answered, deflected, answered something else) is a model’s reading of the exchange. How the AI rates this

  1. deflected
    Employment InsuranceThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates general EI policy without addressing spying, privacy invasion or the number asked.The methods designed to guarantee that the fund is used properly have been in place for a long time.
  2. misdirected
    FinanceThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer praises the minister and economy instead of addressing the reversals, consultation failures or internal criticism.Canada is very lucky to have the most successful finance minister in the world.
  3. misdirected
    EthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to defending the minister's record rather than addressing the ethics breaches or cabinet precedent cited.the real question is why the NDP and its leader are blind not just to the achievements of the Minister of Finance but to the superior performance of the Canadian economy.
  4. deflected
    EthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer thanks the former minister and cites mandates instead of addressing the proposed list or rule application.We have stable institutions in this country, which have been enhanced by this government, and also democratic institutions, and we are very proud to have received three mandates from the Canadian people.
  5. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer mentions broad consultations for the budget but avoids the specific issue of consulting EI claimants versus investigating them.our government is consulting with Canadians from coast to coast to coast in preparation for economic action plan 2013, the budget, which will include positive initiatives to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.
  6. partly answered
    Intergovernmental RelationsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes consultations and prematurity on budget details but does not commit to sitting down with provinces on the program.The government has obviously been consulting widely across the country.
  7. partly answered
    Public SafetyBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer asserts reviews have been strengthened but does not explain the chair's actions or tradition breach.security reviews for this organization have not been weakened by this government; on the contrary, these processes have been strengthened by this government.
  8. partly answered
    National DefenceBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes procedures are reviewed after incidents but does not address why no independent inquiry was established.Obviously, when things like this happen all procedures are reviewed to ensure they cannot happen again.
  9. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMrs. Anne-Marie Day (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer discusses general fraud prevention instead of addressing the claim about inspectors spying on workers at home.despite the fact that Service Canada stopped half a billion dollars in ineligible payments last year, the employment insurance program still lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of fraud and ineligible payments.
  10. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMrs. Anne-Marie Day (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reiterates Service Canada's role in integrity without addressing the centralization of training programs or provincial concerns.Service Canada is responsible for protecting the integrity of the employment insurance system.
  11. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Philip Toone (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer focuses on job creation goals instead of addressing the scrapping of EI or listening to regional alliances.our goals are job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity.
  12. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Yvon Godin (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the mandate to protect EI integrity without addressing the spying accusation or Senate comparisons.Service Canada has a mandate to protect the integrity of the employment insurance system so that Canadians who pay their premiums can receive benefits when they need them.
  13. partly answered
    The BudgetMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses transparency claims by citing consultations and reports but dismisses the premise as partisan.Since 2006, we have consulted more than any other government with respect to budgetary matters, including online consultations, which we were the first government to start back in 2006.
  14. deflected
    The BudgetMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the report's authors as partisan Liberals instead of addressing reduced budget information or transparency failures.One of them is a very well-known Liberal.
  15. deflected
    The BudgetMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer again labels the critics as partisan and cites a different report rather than addressing the budget process integrity.The report is by partisan Liberals who used to work, I guess before my time, at the Department of Finance.
  16. answered
    Government SpendingMrs. Sadia Groguhé (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the government's non-involvement in content design while affirming commitment to essential skills.the government does not design or approve the content of the learning materials used by this organization.
  17. deflected
    Government SpendingMs. Jinny Jogindera Sims (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about an environment of fear and responsibility and instead pivots to job creation.I would invite the NDP to join us in support of our efforts to help create jobs, to help create economic growth and to create long-term prosperity.
  18. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). loaded question.The answer begins to name a body but does not address who is in charge or the delay.Mr. Speaker, the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat—
  19. partly answered
    National DefenceMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses the reset on options analysis but ignores the eject button attack and fiscal fiasco claim.the secretariat is conducting an options analysis and a full assessment of all available choices.
  20. deflected
    Intergovernmental RelationsStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer refuses to discuss the specific meeting and pivots to broad consultations and jobs.I will not get into the discussions I have had with other finance ministers on specific subjects.
  21. misdirected
    Government AppointmentsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the asker on unrelated past positions instead of addressing donations or patronage cleanup.While I am on my feet and on the subject of abuses, the member across the way said in 2010 that he would like to impose an iPod tax on Canadian music listeners.
  22. misdirected
    Government AppointmentsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer mocks the asker with sarcastic suggestions instead of addressing the Prime Minister's judgment on appointments.normally I would be hurt by those angry words, but the member across the way is just depressed.
  23. misdirected
    Government AppointmentsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as unserious and pivots to tax breaks instead of addressing when the Prime Minister learned of the rule breach.why do those members not ever ask any serious questions?
  24. misdirected
    Government AppointmentsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the asker's donations to Québec solidaire instead of addressing how close the appointee was to the inner circle.instead of asking questions about someone who resigned a long time ago and whose actions had nothing to do with his role in the government, the member should start to answer questions about his own political decisions.
  25. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Dennis Bevington (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends general Arctic efforts without addressing specific project delays or international cooperation.The opposition, including that member, has been critical of these efforts throughout all the time we have put into infrastructure, into new equipment, into exercises that augment Canada's sovereignty and security.
  26. misdirected
    National DefenceMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks the opposition's record instead of addressing impacts of cuts on readiness and communities.that is rich, coming from the member and his party.
  27. partly answered
    National DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). loaded question.Answer addresses the evaluation of options but ignores the cost and timeline contradictions raised.the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat is currently evaluating all options for replacing our CF-18 fleet.
  28. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). loaded question.Answer discusses the options analysis process without resolving contradictions about CF-18 lifespan or trust issues.the options analysis will not be limited by the statement of operational requirements.
  29. misdirected
    HealthCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks the questioner's party record instead of addressing the national food strategy.I take no lessons from that individual, whose colleagues cut transfers to the provinces and territories when they were in government.
  30. partly answered
    Public Works and Government ServicesMr. Matthew Dubé (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.Answer mentions the dispute panel but does not commit to compensation or timeline for compliance.The dispute advisory panel was created to provide impartial advice in disputes over the calculation of payment.
  31. partly answered
    Public Works and Government ServicesMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.Answer references the advisory panel and upcoming meetings but avoids confirming payment or ending delays.we have asked the advisory panel for advice on resolving these disputes, and we have asked the panel to provide its advice as quickly as possible.
  32. partly answered
    International Co-operationMark Eyking (Liberal) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly denies subsidizing mining companies and explains the use of private sector for poverty outcomes but does not address cuts or preference for NGOs.CIDA does not subsidize mining companies, nor NGOs, for that matter.
  33. deflected
    Financial InstitutionsMr. François Lapointe (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends the existing voluntary code without addressing the call for mandatory regulations.It is working and is accomplishing the goals that were set by consumers, by small business and by the retailers.
  34. answered
    Human Resources and Skills Development CanadaMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the breach as unacceptable and states that systems are being overhauled to protect privacy.That is why the department has been instructed to overhaul all of its systems and all of the processes that it uses so that Canadians can be sure that the privacy of their personal information will be protected.
  35. partly answered
    Service CanadaMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms the program will continue and needs will be met but does not address the specific complaint about unanswered calls or delays.I can confirm that the program will continue and that Service Canada will meet our producers' needs as soon as possible.